A former U.S. education official has started to work as the honorary president of an elementary school in southwest China.

Susan Sclafani, former Assistant Secretary for the office of Vocational and Adult Education, was named as honorary president of Jinsha Elementary School in Sichuan Province on Wednesday, according to a report released by www.newssc.org on Thursday.

Doctor Sclafani, also the Managing Director of U.S. Chartwell Education Group, will visit the school once every year, bringing latest information and methods about education and administration to China.

Sclafani said she was attracted by the well-equipped campus, especially the planetarium and labs, as well as the rich cultural background of the region.

People with innovative spirit is a crucial factor to the success of a business. Educational organizations should create a favorable environment for students to develop their willingness and ability of renovation, said the U.S. expert.

About 100 teachers and experts from the United States are expected to visit Chengdu, the provincial capital, as of August next year, exchanging working experiences with Chinese counterpart, according to Jin Ying, president of Jinsha.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2007)